McLeish looking for additions

14 January 2013

Alex McLeish is keen to bolster his Nottingham Forest squad with a goalkeeper and a couple of attacking players.

McLeish will this week step up his search for an experienced keeper. The Scot handed 22-year-old Karl Darlow his full league debut for the club against Peterborough on Saturday after telling long-time number one Lee Camp that he does not have a future at the City Ground.

A striker is also a priority for the Scot though after Dexter Blackstock missed the 2-1 victory over Posh with an injury sustained in training, meaning McLeish had to name Matt Derbyshire on the bench after also telling him he is allowed to leave the club.

"With big Dexter out injured, we only have two strikers, really, in (Billy) Sharp and Coxy (Simon Cox)," McLeish told the Nottingham Post. "Matt Derbyshire is still in the squad, but it is not easy for Matt - or for me - when I say to him 'you are not in my plans' then ask him to be on the bench.

"While he is still a Forest player, he might have a role to play. He has a great attitude, to be fair.

"But we do need to make additions. It is not about numbers, it is about quality. Two or three could be enough to enhance the squad. It depends on positions, that is what matters, and we are looking at a goalkeeper, winger and attacker - we are a bit light in the attack.

"We have a long list of potential targets and, while we have had one or two opportunities to do things, we want to make sure we get things right. We have plenty of options in mind and I am not just talking about keepers."

McLeish added: "If we want to have a crack at the play-offs, we need to reinforce the team - we need to add.

"I want to help the guys who are here to have a big push at this. We need to improve and I am sure new players will help us to do that.

"Some deals may take until the end of the window to get done. We have sewn a few seeds but some deals will drag on, I would expect until the end of the window."